Yorkshire Regional Final Preview

The excellent Pannal Golf Club

When the twelve finalists in the Yorkshire section of the 2011 Northern Matchplay Golf Championship meet at Pannal Golf Club next Wednesday a thrilling day of golf is in prospect.

It was the Yorkshire Matchplay, a pilot tournament launched in 2010, that kick-started the much bigger Northern event and this seasons competition in the White Rose county has once again been compelling.

Last year golfers played a ‘home & away’ two-legged regional final to make it through to the grand final but that has been replaced in 2011 with the Pannal date where four individuals and four pairs will compete over 36 holes to claim a place The Alwoodley Golf Club.

Pannal is one of the few courses in Yorkshire that has been recognised by the R & A as an Open Qualifying course. In 2011 it was also used as a qualifying venue for the prestigious Brabazon Trophy.

It will certainly provide an enjoyable and challenging test for the finalists. The scenic course is lies in woodland and heathland with outstanding views of Harrogate and surrounding areas that can be seen from different parts of the course. The signature par 3 17th hole provides the most stunning view of all across a ravine to a green etched into the landscape.

A morning semi-final will take place with the winners of each match going head-to-head in the afternoon. The main prize up for grabs on the day is a place in the grand final on the 28th & 29th September although vouchers will be awarded to the runners-up and winners of the 3rd place play-off at the Harrogate-based course.

Ryland & Ibbotson

The pairs event is set to be an absolute belter with the added twist that last years defending champions have made it through to the last four.

Wheatley’s Ben Ryland & Ashley Ibbotson secured their place with a 2&1 win away from home at Wortley on Wednesday evening. The dynamic duo have now played an impressive 12 matches without loss and based on their track record will be the pair to beat at Pannal.

They haven’t had an easy ride to this stage though. Their first two games were only decided on the final hole before another tight game when they went to Phoenix and came away with a positive 2&1 scoreline. They went within a whisker of going out in the fourth round but eventually came through at the fourth extra play-off hole prior to their recent win at Wortley.

If they are to make it to the grand final for the second successive year they will be under no illusions that they have a mammoth task ahead because they will be joined by three outstanding contenders.

Andrew Goldstein & James Skirrow (Crosland Heath / Scarcroft) haven’t always enjoyed the best of the weather during their games but have dove-tailed magnificently to make it to Pannal. They have chalked up six victories, three on their travels, and after landing the prestigious Brabazon Challenge in 2010 know what it takes to win.

Back in May Goldstein & Skirrow enjoyed a close game, with much banter on the social network site Twitter, against Adam Crum & Paul Buchanan. They eventually came through 2&1 before edging another tight game at Moor Allerton on the last. Home advantage proved crucial as they eased passed their third round opponents 6&4 but were made to work hard at Crow Nest Park in the next round and then against at the fifth round stage, shaking hands at the 19th on both occasions. A 4&3 victory at Howley Hall completed their story to the final.

Hewson & Greetham

Meanwhile Andrew Greetham & Trevor Hewson have been on fire during their five qualifying matches and have been tipped, by some of the people they have knocked out on the way, to go on and win the overall title.

The Hessle pair opened with a 3&1 win then scored a very impressive 5&3 victory at Malton & Norton. They enjoyed favourable home results in the next two rounds where they came through 3&1 and then 5&3 before really turning on the style to defeat Mark Owers & Simon Whitham away from home at Forest of Galtres. There they ran out 7&6 winners, a result that certainly grabbed the attention of the other competitors.

The pairs line-up is completed with the Moor Allerton partnership of Matthew Grantham & Ben Musgrove. Whilst the other pairs might have been making the headlines Grantham & Musgrove have quietly gone about their business and reached the regional final somewhat under the radar. The Leeds pair have let their golf do the talking with some impressive displays. 

They opened with a 2&1 win in the first round before a comprehensive 7&5 victory in the second round where Grantham produced sub-par golf. A positive third round result followed when they knocked out Andrew Lincoln, an individual finalist at Pannal, and his son Joe. A 2&1 away win followed at Ghyll before they sealed a Pannal spot by beating Geoff Truefitt & Nick Brown (Middlesbrough) on the final hole at Moor Allerton.

The mouth-watering ties will tee-off just after the individual matches which have also produced a line-up equally as impressive.

Andrew Lincoln

Andrew Lincoln, a regular competitor in Northern Matchplay events, has made his first finals day appearance. The Catterick player turned round a three-hole deficit in the two-legged opening round and hasn’t looked back since. 

He eliminated Chris Lennox at home then came through a close game at Middlesbrough against last years grand finalist, Craig Marwood, on the second play-off hole. His Pannal place was guaranteed when he beat Daniel Heap 6&5 at Catterick.

Garforth’s David Williams was the first golfer to book a place in the regional final after an impressive 3&2 win away at Hessle. Before that he accounted for Charlie Emsley (Allerthorpe Park, 4&3) and John Barratt (Scarthingwell, 5&4) over his home course. He also won through against Normanton’s Connor Millard in the 36-hole first round.

Karl Smith from Queensbury Golf Club has prevailed in the last two rounds over his home course but prior to that won on the road twice. He also successfully negotiated the opening round when he beat Castlefield’s Jim Smith on the 36th hole. His away victories came at Huddersfield (4&2) and Baildon (2&1) before winning both his home games on the last hole.

Teejay White was the last individual to qualify for the Pannal showdown but did it in style with a win on the last at Huddersfield Golf Club. He’d previously won at home against Wheatley’s Joel Cartlidge 2&1 and Wortley’s Joshua Pratt 4&2. The second round game resulted in a 3&1 win at Dore & Totley for the Rotherham youngster after coming through the two-legged first round.

A draw for who plays who in the semi-finals will take place at breakfast, just prior to the start of play, so golfers will have little time to digest who their opponents will be.

The successful individual and pair on the day will progress to Alwoodley where they will have to beat winners from other regional finals for the overall Northern Matchplay title.